ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 3, 1996 TAG: 9612030058
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SHIREEN I. PARSONS
THE ARTICLE ``'Smart' road plan expands" didn't quite tell the whole story. Opponents of the smart road recently received a copy of an Aug. 9 memo written by a research associate at Virginia Tech's Center for Transportation Research to "Smart Road Expert Panel Members." The memo states, "[the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is] looking for us to provide them with the detailed specifications for the technology infrastructure that will be built into the roadway. If we don't tell them exactly what we want, they will give us what they think we want."
Attached to the memo are 32 pages describing the testbed and extraneous technology that Tech wants VDOT to provide, much of it at taxpayers' expense.
The public has been under the impression that we were paying for the road only, and that Tech and its phantom research sponsors would pay for the rest. We believed that what would be constructed in Ellett Valley was just a highway with some bridges. Apparently, we were wrong.
Here are some highlights from the memo:
* There will be a turn-around with a centerline radius of 195 feet (390-foot diameter) in the area of the interchange with the 460 bypass. This turnaround will allow a tractor-trailer to maintain a minimum speed of 25 mph. If VDOT can acquire the right-of-way for a scenic overlook, there will be a duplicate of this turnaround at the end of the testbed in Ellett Valley; if not, the end turnaround will have a 52-foot radius (104-foot diameter), and allow a speed of 13.9 mph.
* Tech says, "It is desired that high danger zones, such as drop-offs and bridges have extra protection to keep vehicles from going off the road." And, " some research may require as large a buffer zone as possible in the event of vehicles losing control. A minimum of 2 of these buffer zones, a minimum of 300' in length, are requested."
* For the dreamed-of all-weather testing (AWT), there will be 72 7-foot-tall snow-making towers spaced at 37 feet apart along a half-mile stretch. The estimated capital cost for the towers is $265,020.
* Noise is a factor with the snow blowers - they operate at 87 decibels. The snow system also requires diesel air compressors, and Tech, in a classic understatement, admits that "noise abatement may be necessary."
* To make 4 inches per hour of snow will require 175,153 gallons per hour of water. Tech is negotiating with Blacksburg and Montgomery County to acquire the water, but those authorities would be able to provide only 1,000 gallons per minute, and the snow system would require 2,919 gallons per minute. To make up the difference, there will be a holding pond 60 feet in diameter and 5 feet deep. There would have to be a service road to the holding pond.
* Tech suggests that the holding pond would serve a dual purpose at the proposed visitors center as landscaping and water supply for the AWT.
* Tech hopes to recycle the water for the AWT, but says that this won't be possible if de-icers are used on the road. They don't say where the contaminated water would be discharged.
* Tech says, "It is desired that the AWT element of the Smart Highway have a lifetime as long as the highway itself, and not just the lifetime of the two-mile testbed. It is an extremely large investment in infrastructure to use for only a few years." Yes it is. It is also hard to imagine why anyone would want snow blowers on a highway forever.
* Wireless communications towers will be placed every half mile along the westbound lane, as far off the highway as the right-of-way will allow. The height of the towers will be at least 50 feet above the highest point between the consecutive towers. So how tall would the tallest towers have to be? Smaller antennas may be needed for other communications systems, and could be mounted onto existing roadway lighting.
* For all the detail about communications towers needed, Tech admits, "It is unknown at this time exactly what kind of communications will be installed on the smart road."
* Tech wants five trailer sites, spaced one-half mile apart, outside the clear zone. They require level ground, level access from the highway and "parking provisions for a few vehicles." The trailers will require access to high- and low-voltage conduits as well as the communications conduits.
* Speaking of voltage, the smart road will require its own power grid, including transformers and conduits.
Try to picture all this. Did any of the local governing bodies picture this when they supported this project? Did the Commonwealth Transportation Board picture this when they allocated funding for this project? Did anyone realize the scope of what will be constructed in Ellett Valley? The cost to the taxpayers? The dangers to residents and motorists?
Because of the obvious impact to local residents and the environment, all of this should have been subject to public comment; however, none of it appeared in VDOT's environmental-impact statement or in any of the information presented at the design hearing. Nor has it appeared in any of Tech's glossy advertising campaign for the project. Even VDOT's own Citizens Advisory Committee for the Smart Road is unaware of these added features. Why?
According to VDOT, there isn't enough money to build even the first two miles of the road - it will end at Virginia 723. There is no money to begin constructing the infamous bridge behind Dr. John Lipsey's barn. We may very well be stuck with this monstrous thing that goes nowhere, and we taxpayers will have to pay for it. It is a perfect example of corporate welfare.
That this information has been kept from the public is a travesty.
Shireen I. Parsons of Riner is a consultant to nonprofit environmental groups.
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